Bicycle chain stay coupling

ABSTRACT

A bicycle chain stay coupling apparatus includes a first bracket component coupled to a seat tube of a bicycle frame, a connecting component of a chain stay of the bicycle frame, and a coupling component encasing the connecting component and coupled to the first bracket component. The coupling component is relatively more elastic than the first bracket component and the connecting component, and the coupling component is positioned in series between the first bracket component and the connecting component with respect to a common axle of the first bracket component, the connecting component, and the coupling component.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to the following applications, the contentsof each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety:U.S. Ser. No. 14/332,960, filed on Jul. 16, 2014, titled “FOLDING PEDALMOUNT,”; U.S. Ser. No. 14/332,965, filed on Jul. 16, 2014, titled“BICYCLE CONTROL SYSTEM,”; U.S. Ser. No. 14/332,978, filed on Jul. 16,2014, titled “TOWABLE BICYCLE,”; U.S. Ser. No. 14/332,983, filed on Jul.16, 2014, titled “FOLDING BICYCLE,”; U.S. Ser. No. 14/332,990, filed onJul. 16, 2014, titled “WHEEL COUPLING,”; U.S. Ser. No. 14/332,998, filedon Jul. 16, 2014, titled “FOLDING HANDLEBAR MOUNT,”; U.S. Ser. No.14/333,010, filed on Jul. 16, 2014, titled “BICYCLE FRAME JOINT LOCKINGMECHANISM,”; U.S. Ser. No. 14/333,020, filed on Jul. 16, 2014, titled“BICYCLE WHEEL AXLE,”; and U.S. Ser. No. 14/333,093, filed on Jul. 16,2014, titled “FOLDING BICYCLE CHAIN STAY AND FRAME,”.

BACKGROUND

As standard bicycles do not fit conveniently into the provided luggagespace of passenger cars, and may be difficult to navigate through publicareas such as trains, buses, stations, and airports, folding bicyclesmay be desirable. However, a typical folding bicycle is designed to becarried when not in use and has many specially-designed components—e.g.pedals, handlebars, drive systems and seating—which cannot beinterchanged with standard bicycle industry components. Suchspecially-designed components may not be desirable, as cyclists and/orretailer may prefer to equip a bicycle with different types of pedals,seats, handlebars, etc. according to their own preferences or targetmarkets. For example, the variety of pedals include clipless pedals,caged pedals, platform pedals and toe-clipped pedals.

Furthermore, while many bicycles feature quick-release wheels, typicalquick-release rear wheels retain the drive sprockets or gear cassette onthe wheel hub, maintaining a jagged and oily surface on one side of thewheel. Additionally, with a typical quick-release wheel, such as on asingle speed bicycles without a derailleur or chain tensioning device,the user may need to manipulate the bicycle chain to remove it from thesprockets.

An electric bicycle provides mechanical power in assistance to thatprovided by the rider through the pedals. While the performance of theelectrical bicycle across a range of load conditions (e.g., changes inincline of the bicycle path) may be an important characteristic of thebicycle, it is highly dependent on the physiology of the user. However,in a typical electric bicycle, physiological factors for the user suchas pedal power, pedal force, preferred pedaling cadence, weight load onthe bicycle (e.g. the user and luggage), comfort level (e.g. measured orcalculated physical exertion), riding skill, aerodynamic form, clothingand physical fitness amongst others are all unknown and variable.Additionally, typical electric bicycles are heavier than standardbicycles because of the additional weight of the motor and battery packand, therefore, may be relatively difficult to manipulate in situationsand locations where the bicycle may not be ridden, such as pedestrianareas and public transportation stations or vehicles.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary bicycle.

FIG. 2A is a front view of the exemplary bicycle of FIG. 1 with thepedals and handlebars in exemplary folded positions.

FIG. 2B is a side view of the bicycle of FIG. 2A with the seat in acollapsed position and the wheels removed from the frame.

FIG. 2C is a side view of the bicycle frame of FIG. 2B with the headtube and associated components in an exemplary folded position.

FIG. 2D is a side view of the bicycle frame of FIG. 2C with the seattube and chain stay in exemplary folded positions.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the bicycle of FIG. 1 with apower source partially disengaged from the top tube of the frame.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary towing configuration for abicycle according to the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5A is a partial cross-sectional view of an auxiliary wheel mountfor a towing configuration for a bicycle according to the principles ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 5B is a partial cross-sectional view of another auxiliary wheelmount for a towing configuration for a bicycle according to theprinciples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a top view of additional auxiliary wheel mounts for a towingconfiguration for a bicycle according to the principles of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of an exemplary pedal and crank armassembly in an operating position.

FIG. 7B is an exploded perspective view of the pedal and crank armassembly of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7C is a side view of the pedal and crank arm assembly of FIG. 7A ina folded position.

FIG. 7D is a partial side view of a lever and bracket for anotherexemplary pedal and crank arm assembly in a locked arrangement.

FIG. 7E is a partial side view of the lever and bracket for the pedaland crank arm assembly of FIG. 7D in an unlocked arrangement.

FIG. 7F is a partial cross-sectional view of the pedal and crank armassembly of FIG. 7D along the line 7F in FIG. 7D.

FIG. 7G is a partial cross-sectional view of the pedal and crank armassembly of FIG. 7E along the line 7G in FIG. 7E.

FIG. 8A is a top view of a handlebar folding mechanism for a bicycleaccording to the principles of the present disclosure in an operatingposition.

FIG. 8B is a top view of the handlebar folding mechanism of FIG. 8A in afolded position.

FIG. 8C is a top view of the handlebar folding mechanism of FIG. 8A in aposition for a towing configuration for a bicycle according to theprinciples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9A is a partial cross-sectional view of the handlebar foldingmechanism of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9B is another partial cross-sectional view of the handlebar foldingmechanism of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view of a rear wheel assembly for abicycle according to the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of a rear wheel assembly for abicycle according to the principles of the present disclosure with therear axle and rear wheel disengaged from the frame assembly.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an exemplary wheel coupling for abicycle according to the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another exemplary wheel coupling for abicycle according to the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an exemplary bicycle power and controlsystem for a bicycle according to the principles of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart of an exemplary process that may be implementedby the bicycle power and control system of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15A is a side view of another exemplary bicycle.

FIG. 15B is a perspective view of a portion of the bicycle of FIG. 15A.

FIG. 16 is a side view of an exemplary bracket and cable assembly for aframe pivot for a bicycle according to the principles of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 17A is a side view of an exemplary bracket assembly for a chainstay pivot for a bicycle according to the principles of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 17B is a cross-sectional view of the bracket assembly of FIG. 17A.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a lever and pivot bracket assembly anda partially uncovered seat tube for a bicycle according to theprinciples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 19 is a side view of another exemplary bracket and cable assemblyfor a frame pivot for a bicycle according to the principles of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 20A is a perspective view of an exemplary external lockingmechanism for a frame pivot for a bicycle according to the principles ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 20B is a partial perspective view of internal features of thelocking mechanism of FIG. 20A.

FIG. 21A is a perspective view of an exemplary chain stay componentpivoting the rear wheel at a first hinge from the riding configurationof FIG. 15.

FIG. 21B is a perspective view of the chain stay component of FIG. 21Apivoting the rear wheel at a second hinge.

FIG. 21C is a perspective view of the chain stay component of FIGS.21A-B locating the rear wheel in an auxiliary position substantiallyaxially aligned with an auxiliary wheel mount for the front wheel.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an exemplary wheel coupling for a chainstay component for a bicycle according to the principles of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 23 is a partial top cross-sectional view of an exemplary chain staycomponent having a pivot arm locating the rear wheel in the ridingconfiguration of FIG. 15.

FIG. 24 is a side view of an exemplary wheel axle assembly for a bicycleaccording to the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of an exemplary base component for thewheel axle assembly of FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a side view of the wheel axle assembly of FIG. 24 with anauxiliary lever attached thereto.

FIG. 27A is a partial cross-view of an initial engagement of the baseand main body components of the wheel axle assembly of FIG. 24.

FIG. 27B is a partial cross-view of an engagement of the base componentand the bayonet component of the wheel axle assembly of FIG. 24.

FIG. 27C is a partial cross-sectional view of a rotation of the lever ofthe wheel axle assembly of FIG. 24 having the base component and thebayonet component engagement of FIG. 27B.

FIG. 27D is a partial cross-sectional view of a further rotation of thelever of the wheel axle assembly of FIG. 24 having the base componentand the bayonet component of the shaft engagement of FIG. 27B to tensionthe main body.

FIG. 28 is a partial perspective view of another exemplary towingconfiguration for a bicycle according to the principles of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of front and rear wheels for a bicycleaccording to the principles of the present disclosure coupled togetherfor storage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

An exemplary bicycle according to the present disclosure includes afolding frame from which the wheels may be removed or re-positioned forreconfiguration and/or for storage of the frame. The folded frame fitsinside a typical passenger car's luggage space, minimizing the loss ofluggage space capacity and, if the wheels are removed, the weight forlifting. An exemplary bicycle may include a power and control system,including a computer and data input devices for measuring, e.g.,physiological factors of the user and controlling the motor according tothe user characteristics. An exemplary bicycle may be configured in atowing configuration, with the wheels reattached and/or re-positioned tothe folded frame, to enable the bicycle, and any attachment thereto(e.g. luggage), to be pulled by a user. In implementations including apower and control system, the motor may be activated in the towingconfiguration to assist in the towing of the folded bicycle. Anexemplary bicycle may also include folding pedal and handlebar mounts, afolding chain stay component, two or more pivots of the frame coupledtogether at a single locking lever, and the wheel couplings and wheelaxles disclosed herein. An exemplary bicycle may also be compatible withstandard cycle industry components, such as pedals, brake levers, gearshifters, hand grips, front fork assemblies, wheels, headset bearings,free hubs, chainsets, and gear cassettes.

Exemplary Bicycle Elements

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary bicycle 100. It should beunderstood that, unless otherwise stated herein, the disclosure of allcomponents of bicycles according to the principles of the presentdisclosure may be applicable to each exemplary bicycle or bicyclesub-system, sub-assembly, portion, section, or mechanism, respectively.

The bicycle 100 includes a front wheel 110 and a rear wheel 112. Thefront and rear wheels 110, 112 are rotatably coupled to a frame assembly120, also referred to herein as the frame.

The frame assembly 120 and the front wheel 110 selectively engage at afront fork tube 122. The front fork tube 122 is coupled to a head tube124. The frame assembly 120 further includes a top tube 126 coupled tothe head tube 124, a seat tube 128 is coupled to a the top tube 126opposite the head tube 124, and a chain stay 130 coupled to the seattube 128. The head tube 124 is coupled to the top tube 126 proximate aforward end 132 of the top tube 126, and, proximate an opposing rearwardend 134 of the top tube 126, an upper end 136 of the seat tube 128 iscoupled to the top tube 126. At a lower end 138 of the seat tube 128, apedal end 140 of the chain stay 130 is coupled thereto. The rear wheel112 is coupled to an opposing wheel end 142 of the chain stay 130. Thecomponents of the frame assembly 120 may include materials such as, forexample, fiber-based polymer composites, steel, titanium and aluminumalloys.

In one implementation, the frame assembly 120 of the bicycle 100includes a first frame lever 144 coupled to the top tube 126 and secondand third frame levers 146, 148 coupled to the seat tube 128. The firstframe lever 144 selectively locks the head tube 124 relative to the toptube 126 about a first frame pivot 150; the second frame lever 146selectively locks the seat tube 128 relative to the top tube 126 about asecond frame pivot 152, and the third frame lever 148 selectively locksthe chain stay 130 relative to the seat tube 128 around a third framepivot 154. The pivots 150, 152, 154 may be oriented substantiallyparallel to one another. In another example, according to the principlesof the present disclosure, the frame 120 may be locked such as isdescribed herein with respect to the frame 620 of the bicycle 600 andFIGS. 15-20. Accordingly, a bicycle according to the principles of thepresent disclosure and/or components thereof may be selectivelyconfigured for, e.g., upright operation (FIG. 1, FIG. 15), storage (FIG.2D, FIG. 29) and towing (FIG. 4, FIG. 28).

The bicycle 100 may also include a suspension component 156 coupledbetween the front fork tube 122 and the front wheel 110. The suspensioncomponent 156 may be a hydraulic suspension mechanism. Additionally, thebicycle 100 includes brake mechanisms (not shown) operably coupled toeach of the front and rear wheels 110, 112. The brake mechanisms may be,for example, hydraulic disc brake mechanisms or rim brake mechanisms.

With reference to FIG. 2A in addition to FIG. 1, the bicycle 110includes a pedal assembly or chainset 160 coupled to the seat tube 128proximate the lower end 138 thereof. The chainset 160 includes a pair ofcrank arms 162 a, 162 b coupled to opposing ends of a pedal or bottombracket axle 164. Pedals 166 a, 166 b are coupled to the ends of thecrank arms 162 a, 162 b, respectively, opposite the bottom bracket axle164. The pedals 166 a, 166 b engage with pedal mount mechanisms 170 a,170 b, respectively. As described in herein with respect to FIGS. 7A-7G,the pedal mount mechanisms 170 a, 170 b are selectively operable topivot the pedals 166 a, 166 b respectively between operating positionssubstantially orthogonal to the respective crank arms 162 a, 162(FIG. 1) and folded positions aligned with the respective crank arms 162a, 162 b (FIGS. 2A-2D), in furtherance of selectively configuring thebicycle 100 for, e.g., upright operation (FIG. 1), storage (FIG. 2D) andtowing (FIG. 4).

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the bicycle 100 includes a gearassembly 180 coupled between the chainset 160 and the rear wheel 112.The gear assembly 180 includes a front gear 182 fixed to the bottombracket axle 164, a rear gear cassette 184 coupled to the rear wheel112, and a chain 186 extending between the front gear 182 and the reargear cassette 184. With bicycle 100 configured for upright operation(FIG. 1), the crank arms 162 a, 162 b and the bottom bracket axle 164translate force applied to rotate the pedals 166 a, 166 b to drive thefront gear 182, which, in turn, drives the rear wheel 112 through thechain 186 and the rear gear cassette 184. In other implementations, abicycle according to the principles of the present disclosure mayinclude a derailleur gear mechanism with components coupled to the chainstay and/or seat tube to provide for multiple gearing.

The bicycle 100 includes a stem 190 extending relatively upwards fromhead tube 124 opposite the front fork tube 122, with the bicycle 100 inthe exemplary upright configuration illustrated in FIG. 1. The stem 190supports a handlebar folding mechanism 192 and handlebars 194 a, 194 bcoupled on opposite sides of the handlebar folding mechanism 192. Asdescribed in herein with respect to FIGS. 8A-8C and 9A-9B, the handlebarfolding mechanism 192 is selectively operable to rotate the handlebars194 a, 194 b between operating positions substantially orthogonal to thestem 190 and the head tube 124 (e.g. FIG. 1) and folded positionsaligned with the stem 190 and the head tube 124 (e.g. FIGS. 2A-2D), infurtherance of selectively configuring the bicycle 100 for, e.g.,upright operation (FIG. 1), storage (FIG. 2D) and towing (FIG. 4). Thebicycle 100 may include handlebar components such as brake handles 196a, 196 b respectively coupled to handlebars 194 a, 194 b.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the bicycle 100 includes a seat 210supported by a seat post 212 telescopically received within the seattube 128. The bicycle 100 further includes a seat post locking mechanism214, such as a selectively operable clamp or pin. Accordingly, the seat210 may be adjusted relative to the frame assembly 120 and the chainset160 for the comfort and size of a user of the bicycle 100. Furthermore,the seat 210 may be located proximate the upper end 136 of the seat tube128 in furtherance of selectively configuring the bicycle 100 for, e.g.,storage (FIG. 2D) and towing (FIG. 4).

The front wheel 110 engages the front fork tube 122 with a front axle230 and one of the couplings 510 (e.g. FIG. 11). The front axle 230includes a release handle 232 thereon, and the release handle 232 may beoperated to temporarily remove the front axle 230 to allow removal ofthe front wheel 110 from the front fork tube 122 in furtherance ofselectively configuring the bicycle 100 for, e.g., storage (FIG. 2D) andtowing (FIG. 4). The front wheel 110 further includes a mudguard 234 anda tire 236.

The rear wheel 112 engages the chain stay 130 with a rear axle 240 (FIG.6) and one of the couplings 510 (e.g. FIG. 11). The rear axle 240includes a release handle 242 thereon, and the release handle 242 may beoperated to temporarily remove the rear axle 240 to allow removal of therear wheel 112 from the chain stay 130 in furtherance of selectivelyconfiguring the bicycle 100 for, e.g., storage (FIG. 2D) and towing(FIG. 4). The rear wheel 112 further includes a mudguard 244 and a tire246.

Exemplary Folding of the Frame

FIG. 2A is a front view of the bicycle 100. To collapse the bicycle 100from the upright configuration of FIG. 1 to the storage configuration ofFIG. 2D, the pedals 166 a, 166 b are pivoted from operating positionssubstantially orthogonal to the respective crank arms 162 a, 162 b tofolded positions aligned with the respective crank arms 162 a, 162 b,through operation of the pedal mount mechanisms 170 a, 170 b,respectively. The components and operation of the pedal mount mechanisms170 a, 170 b are described in further detail herein with respect toFIGS. 7A-7G. Likewise, the handlebars 194 a, 194 b are pivoted fromoperating positions substantially orthogonal to the stem 190 and thehead tube 124 to folded positions aligned with the stem 190 and the headtube 124, through operation of the handlebar folding mechanism 192. Thecomponents and operation of the handlebar folding mechanism 192 aredescribed in further detail herein with respect to FIGS. 8A-8C and9A-9B.

FIG. 2B is a side view of the frame assembly 120 of the bicycle 100 withthe front and rear wheels 110, 112 removed. In particular, the releasehandles 232, 242 have been operated to temporarily remove the front andrear axles 230, 240, and the front and rear wheels 110, 112 have beendecoupled from the front fork tube 122 and the chain stay 130,respectively. The front and rear wheels 110, 112 may be separatelystored from the frame assembly 120. The front and rear axles 230, 240may be reattached to the frame assembly 120 for storage thereon.

FIG. 2C is a side view of the frame assembly 120 of the bicycle 100 withthe head tube 126 in an exemplary folded or storage position. To foldthe head tube 124 and the components coupled thereto—the front fork tube122, the stem 190, the handlebar folding mechanism 192, and thehandlebars 194 a, 194 b—relative to the top tube 126, the first framelever 144 may be selectively operated to rotatably unlock the head tube124 relative to the top tube 126, and the head tube 124 may be rotatedabout first frame pivot 150 such that the front fork tube 122 isoverlapping the top tube 126.

FIG. 2D is a side view of the frame assembly 120 of the bicycle 100 in aconfiguration for storage, with the seat tube 124 and the chain stay 130also in exemplary folded or storage positions. In this exemplaryimplementation, to fold the seat tube 128 and the components coupledthereto relative to the top tube 126, the second frame lever 146 may beselectively operated to rotatably unlock the seat tube 128 relative tothe top tube 126, and the seat tube 128 may be rotated about secondframe pivot 152 such that seat tube is disposed the top tube 126 and thefront fork tube 122. To fold the chain stay 130 and the componentscoupled thereto relative to the seat tube 128, the third frame lever 148may be selectively operated to rotatably unlock the chain stay 130relative to the seat tube 128, and the chain stay 130 may be rotatedabout third frame pivot 154 such that the chain stay 130 is disposedalong the seat tube 128. The third frame pivot 154 is spaced apart frombottom bracket axle 164 such that, when the wheel end 142 of the chainstay 130 is rotated toward the upper end of the seat tube 128, the reargear cassette 184 of the gear assembly 180 moves closer to the frontgear 182. As such, the chain 186 becomes slackened (FIG. 2D) and doesnot inhibit the folding of the frame assembly 120. It should beunderstood that, to set up the bicycle 100 in an upright configuration(e.g. FIG. 1), these steps may be reversed. It should be also understoodthat this procedure may vary according to the particular componentsemployed in the bicycle, e.g. the multiple frame pivot locking mechanismdisclosed with respect to the bicycle 600 and FIGS. 15-20.

With the frame assembly 120 of the bicycle 100 in the folded or storageconfiguration of FIG. 2D, the frame assembly 120 may be stored in avariety of locations, e.g., the trunk space of a compact automobile orbeneath a desk in an office. In some implementations, each of themechanisms for collapsing the bicycle 100 from an upright, operatingconfiguration to a folded storage configuration—e.g. the first, secondand third frame levers 144, 146, 148; the pedal mount mechanisms 170 a,170 b; the handlebar folding mechanism 192; the seat post lockingmechanism 214; and the front and rear release handles 232, 242 for thefront and rear axles 230, 240, respectively—may each be manuallyoperated, e.g., without the use of any additional tools. Accordingly,the bicycle 100 may be relatively quickly collapsed or set up, e.g., bysome users, in less than 60 seconds, providing a convenient option fortransporting the bicycle 100 in, e.g., pedestrian areas, publictransport, and/or passenger vehicles.

In some implementations, the bicycle 100 according to the presentdisclosure includes a power and control system 250 (FIG. 13), forselectively powering the movement, assisting the powering of themovement, and/or providing sensing and control of the bicycle 100.Referring to FIG. 3, the power and control system 250 for the bicycle100 may include a power source 260, e.g. a rechargeable battery pack,supported within the top tube 126. In one example, the power source 260may be a 36 volt, 8 amp-hour battery pack including an assembly of 402.2 amp-hour lithium-ion “AA” battery cells. The top tube 126 mayinclude a support arm 262 for securing the power source 260 andproviding access thereto to a user of the bicycle 100. The support arm262 is complementary to a recess 264 in the top tube 126 to receive andsecure the power source 260 and the support arm 262. The support arm 262may be configured such that, in the folded configuration of the frame120, the support arm 262 is at or near the center of gravity of thefolded frame 120 and provides a carrying handle for the folded frame 120(see, e.g., FIG. 2D).

The bicycle 100 may further include a control panel 270 to provide auser interface for the power and control system 250. As illustrated inFIG. 3, the exemplary control panel 270 may include a control mount 272and a user device 274. The mount 272 and user device 274 coupled theretoare electrically coupled to the power source 260. It should beunderstood that the user device 274 may be any one of a variety ofinstalled and/or removable computing devices including a processor and amemory, as well as communication capabilities. For example, the userdevice 274 may be a portable computer, tablet computer, a smart phone,etc. that includes capabilities for wireless communications using IEEE802.11, Bluetooth, and/or cellular communications protocols. Further,the user device 274 may use such communication capabilities tocommunicate via a network, e.g., various wired and/or wirelessnetworking technologies, e.g., cellular, Bluetooth, wired and/orwireless packet networks, etc. Accordingly, the user device 274 may beused to carry out operations such as voice recognition functions,cameras, global positioning system (GPS) functions, etc.

The power and control system 250 of the bicycle 100 may also include amotor 280 coupled to and supported by the rear wheel 112. For example,the motor 280 may be an electrically powered 250 or 350 watt brushlessDC hub motor. The motor 280 is electrically coupled to the power source260.

With additional reference to the schematic illustration of the power andcontrol system 250 of the bicycle 100 of FIG. 13, the power and controlsystem 250 may include a computer or microcontroller 282 including aprocessor and a memory, the memory including one or more forms ofcomputer-readable media, and storing instructions executable by theprocessor for performing various operations, including as disclosedherein. Further, the computer 282 may include more than one computingdevice, e.g., controllers or the like included in the bicycle 100 formonitoring and/or controlling various components. The computer 282 isgenerally configured for communications on a controller area network(CAN) bus or the like. Via the CAN bus and/or other wired or wirelessmechanisms, the computer 282 may transmit messages to various devices inbicycle and/or receive messages from the various devices, e.g.,controllers, actuators, sensors, etc. Alternatively or additionally, incases where the computer 282 actually comprises multiple devices, theCAN bus or the like may be used for communications between devicesrepresented as the computer 282 in this disclosure. In addition, thecomputer 282 may be configured for communicating with a network, which,may include various wired and/or wireless networking technologies, e.g.,cellular, Bluetooth, wired and/or wireless packet networks, etc.

The power and control system 250 includes a motor controller 284 incommunication with the computer 282 for operating the motor 280 of thebicycle 100. The computer 282 is configured to receive information fromthe user device 274, through the mount 272, and/or handlebar controls286 supported on one or more of the handlebars 194 a, 194 b. The userdevice 274 and/or the handlebar controls 286 may includeelectro-mechanical interfaces such as buttons—such as the tow button 402of the handlebar 194 a described herein with respect to FIG. 3, knobsand dials, as well as other human machine interfaces, such as aninteractive voice response system, a graphical user interface (GUI)including a touchscreen or the like, etc.

The computer 282 is also configured to receive information from one ormore sensors 288 related to various components or conditions of thebicycle 100, e.g., a proximity sensor for detecting another nearbyvehicle and a cadence and torque sensor for the pedaling of the user,such as, by way of non-limiting example, a cadence and torque sensingbottom bracket. The sensors 288 may also include components such as rearwheel speed and rotational position sensors, such as a hall effectsensor built into the motor 280, sensors for current and/or voltageconsumption by the motor 280, a vehicle proximity sensor, and batterytemperature and power level sensors. The sensors 288 are incommunication with the computer 282 and electrically coupled to thepower source 260. Further, the sensors 288 could include globalpositioning system (GPS) equipment, etc., to provide data directly tothe computer 282, e.g., via a wired or wireless connection. The sensors288 could include communication devices to send and receive informationfrom other vehicles, such as proximity and speed. In other examples, thesensors 288 could include mechanisms such as RADAR, LADAR, sonar, etc.,sensors that could be deployed to measure a distance between the bicycle100 and other vehicles or objects. Yet other sensors 288 could includecameras, motion detectors, or other mechanisms to detect a position,change in position, rate of change in position, etc., of the bicycle 100or its components. A memory of the computer 282 generally stores datacollected from the sensors 288.

The system 250 may further include one or more lights 290 incommunication with the computer 282 and electrically coupled to thepower source 260, such as head lamps, tail lamps 291 (FIG. 3), turnsignals, and front and rear peripheral down lamps. For example, ascontrolled by the computer 282, the peripheral down lamps may project alighted border around the bicycle 100 during operation, to communicate asafe proximity for other vehicles. In another example, the computer 282could activate the tail lamps 292 upon depression of one of the brakehandles 196 a, 196 b. The system 250 is further configured to couple tochargers 292 for recharging the power source 260, including chargersadapted for use in buildings, charging stations, and/or cars, and/orchargers independently generating electrical energy, e.g. solar cells.

In some examples, system elements, e.g. for the power and control system250 of the bicycle 100, may be implemented as computer-readableinstructions (e.g., software) on one or more computing devices (e.g.,servers, personal computers, etc.), stored on computer readable mediaassociated therewith (e.g., disks, memories, etc.). A computer programproduct may comprise such instructions stored on computer readable mediafor carrying out the functions described herein.

Exemplary Process Flows

FIG. 14 is a diagram of an exemplary process 300 for the computer 282 tocontrol various bicycle 100 components and/or operations to optimize theeffort of the user or assist the user in certain situations based datareceived from, e.g., the user device 274, the handlebar controls 286,and/or the sensors 288. For example, based on user characteristics suchas physiological and biometric factors input by a user, determined bycomputer 282, e.g. through execution of calibration process instructionsfor a calibration procedure stored in the memory, and/or measuredthrough the sensors 288 and stored in the memory of the computer 282,together with instructions, algorithms, programs and equations stored inthe memory of the computer 282, the computer 282 of the bicycle 100 maydetermine electrical motor output and provide features such as launchassist forces at an intersection and/or when climbing, pedal cadenceoptimization and bicycle batter range optimization.

The exemplary process 300 begins in a block 310, in which usercharacteristics are measured and/or updated through the computer 282,the sensors 288, the user device 274 and/or the handlebar controls 286and stored in the memory of the computer 282. User characteristics mayinclude, for example, physiological and biometric factors such aspedaling power, pedaling force, pedaling cadence, weight, comfort level,riding skill, aerodynamic form, clothing and fitness level. In oneexample, to measure the user characteristics of pedaling force andpedaling cadence, the computer 282 may include software or instructionsfor a defined test or calibration process or mode in which these factorsare directly measured (e.g. pedal cadence) and/or determined (e.g.pedaling force as a function of applied torque). In such an exemplaryimplementation, measured user performance values, e.g. pedaling cadenceand pedaling torque, may be arranged and stored by the computer 282through population of one or more data arrays in the memory thereof, pera prescribed automated calibration sequence also stored in the memorythereof. User characteristics may be calculated from the one or moredata arrays. In another example, a user may input or deliver usercharacteristics through the user device 274 and/or the handlebarcontrols 286, through manual entry, or through stored measurement ordetermination of the user characteristics with other software,mechanisms or machines (e.g., a stationary bicycle or other exerciseequipment). Yet other user characteristics may be directly measured,such as weight. In another example, the user characteristics may havebeen previously stored in the memory of the computer 282, and thebicycle updates the user characteristics based measurements of the useof the bicycle 100 or a new test or calibration mode operation.

With user characteristics determined, the process continues in a block320, in which the computer 282 determines the power contribution fromthe motor 280 for an operating condition of the bicycle 100, e.g., theincline of the path, the current velocity, and/or the proximity of thebicycle 100 to other vehicles, as may be sensed through the sensors 288.For example, if the bicycle 100 is configured to provide powerassistance during acceleration at intersections, to help prevent theuser from slowing traffic, the bicycle 100 may identify the accelerationevent from a measured velocity below a particular stored threshold andas a measured pedaling cadence and/or power above certain thresholds.With user characteristics, such as weight, pedaling force and pedalingcadence, the computer 282 may determine operational parameters and/orinstructions for the motor controller 284 to activate the motor 280 andenable operation of the bicycle 100 within the user characteristics andother parameters, such as control thresholds and data from the sensors288 stored in a memory of the computer 282. Control thresholds mayinclude, for example, safety thresholds, such as a maximum speed orbicycle angle, or comfort thresholds, such as maximum pedaling force orrate of acceleration.

With the instructions for controlling the motor 280 determined, next, ina block 330, the computer 282 and/or the motor controller 284 operatethe motor 280 according to the instructions. In a block 340, thecomputer 282 determines whether the control functions are to continue,e.g., whether the bicycle 100 may have reached its destination. If thecontrol of computer 282 is not to continue, e.g. the bicycle has reachedits destination and/or is being turned off, the process 300 ends. If thecontrol continues, the process 300 continues to a block 350, in whichthe computer 282 determines whether the user characteristics are to beupdated. If the user characteristics are to be updated, e.g. thecomputer 282 is operating in a fitness mode designed to adjust to theenergy level of the user, the process 300 returns to the block 310. Ifthe user characteristics are not to be updated, e.g. the computer 282 isoperating in a power conserve mode based only on static usercharacteristics, such as weight of the user, the process 300 returns tothe block 320.

In one exemplary implementation, the computer 282 may optimize batteryrange through the process 300, e.g. the computer 282 may continuallyupdate the user characteristics to re-optimize the power delivery inorder to maximize bicycle performance. In other implementations, thebicycle 100 and the computer 282 may allow the user to determine theextent to which the computer 282 relies on the user characteristics todetermine the instructions for operation of the motor 280 in a givenoperational mode. In additional examples, the operational modes may havedifferent objective outcomes such as: a training mode, where theinstructions for operation of the motor 280 are determined according tothe user's training or fitness requirements; a cruise control mode,where a speed input, e.g. through the handlebar controls 286, ismaintained across varying path conditions; acceleration boost modes,where power is provided at, e.g., intersections or hills, to decreaseacceleration time and/or effort; pedal optimization modes, where theassistive power is adjusted so that the rider may maintain a pre-set ormeasured optimal cadence or pedal power; regenerative charging, wherethe power and control system 250 and/or the motor 280 includeregenerative power mechanisms to recharge the power source 260 ondescents or during deceleration; and a range guarantee mode, where apre-set or measured destination is input, and the bike optimizesperformance to ensure the range of the power source 260 extends to thedestination. In another example, operational modes may be predeterminedto tailor the performance of the bicycle 100 to a particular style, e.g.faster acceleration in a “sporty” setting in any appropriate operationalmode. As such, the exemplary process 300 may provide a variety ofpedaling cadences without having to individually tailor the gearing ofthe bicycle 100.

Exemplary Towing Configuration

With reference to FIG. 4, in one implementation, the bicycle 100 may bearranged in a towing configuration 400. In the towing configuration 400,the front and rear wheels 110, 112 are re-positioned on the frameassembly 120, and the front fork tube 122, the head tube 124, the seattube 128, the chain stay 130, and the pedals 166 a, 166 b are eachfolded as described herein with respect to FIGS. 2A-2D. As described inadditional detail herein with respect to FIGS. 8A-8C and 9A-9B, thehandlebars 194 a, 194 b are rotated to the towing position illustratedin FIG. 4. In particular, the handlebar 194 b is folded along the headtube 124, and the handlebar 194 a is extended in the opposing direction,away from the head tube 124 and the top tube 126. The handlebar 194 aincludes an interface component, such as a tow button 402 on the endthereof, to enable user activation of the power and control system 250in a towing configuration of the handlebars.

In one implementation, the front and rear wheels 110, 112 arere-positioned on the folded frame assembly 120 with auxiliary wheelmounts 410 a (FIG. 5A) and 410 b (not shown). It should be understoodthat the description herein of one of the auxiliary wheel mounts 410 a,410 b applies equally to the other of the auxiliary wheel mounts 410 a,410 b. The auxiliary wheel mounts 410 a, 410 b are coupled to opposingoutside portions of the chain stay 130. For example, with additionalreference to FIG. 5A, the auxiliary wheel mount 410 a may be in the formof a post with a thread 412 a. The chain stay 130 may include acomplementary threaded aperture 414 a to receive the auxiliary wheelmount 410 a. As such, with the frame assembly 120 in the foldedposition, the front wheel 110 may be aligned with the aperture 414 a,and the auxiliary wheel mount 410 a may be extended through the frontwheel 110 and threadingly engage the chain stay 130 at the aperture 414a to secure the front wheel 110 to the chain stay 130.

Referring to FIG. 5B, another exemplary auxiliary wheel mount 410 a′ isillustrated. The auxiliary wheel mount 410 a′ is configured to engagewith notched aperture 414 a′ of the chain stay 130. The auxiliary wheelmount 410 a′ includes a selectively operable pin 416 a′ complementary tothe notched aperture 414 a′ which is operated by a button mechanism 420a′. The auxiliary wheel mount 410 a′ may secure the front wheel 110 tothe chain stay 130 as similarly described herein with respect to theauxiliary wheel mount 410 a.

Referring to FIG. 6, additional exemplary auxiliary wheel mounts 410 a″,410 b″ are illustrated. The auxiliary wheel mounts 410 a″, 410 b″include button mechanisms 420 a″, 420 b″ for respectively retractingmovable flanges 422 a″, 422 b″ at the ends thereof. Furthermore, theauxiliary wheel mounts 410 a″, 410 b″ are hinged to the chain stay 130at mount pivots 424 a″, 424 b″, respectively. Accordingly, whenarranging the bicycle 100 in the towing configuration 400, the auxiliarywheel mounts 410 a″, 410 b″ may be rotated away from the chain stay 130about mount pivots 424 a″, 424 b″, and the button mechanisms 420 a″, 420b″ may be actuated to allow the front and rear wheels 110, 112 to bereceived on the auxiliary wheel mounts 410 a″, 410 b″. When the buttonmechanisms 420 a″, 420 b″ are released, the flanges 422 a″, 422 b″secure the front and rear wheels 110, 112 to the auxiliary wheel mounts410 a″, 410 b″. Another exemplary towing configuration for a bicycleaccording to the principles of the present disclosure is discussedherein with respect to FIGS. 21 and 28.

A user may manually pull the bicycle 100 in the towing configuration400. Additionally, in some implementations, when the rear wheel 112 isin the auxiliary position outside of the chain stay 130 in the towingconfiguration 400 of the bicycle 100, the motor 280 remains incommunication with the power and control system 250 and electricallycoupled to the power source 260. For example, an auxiliary connectionfor the power and control system 250 may be disposed within theauxiliary wheel mount 410 b. Moreover, the tow button 402 comprises oneof the handlebar controls 286 in communication with the computer 282. Insuch an exemplary implementation, a user may actuate the tow button 402to propel the bicycle 100 in the towing configuration 400 with the motor280. The computer 282 may identify the towing configuration 400 viasensors 288 and/or input from user device 274 and/or handlebar controls286, and may, with the motor controller 284, limit the operation of themotor 280 as appropriate for the towing configuration 400. The computermay adjust the operation of the motor 280 during use in the towingconfiguration 400 according to data received from sensors 288, e.g. aninclined or declined surface over which the bicycle 100 is being towedacross, the altitude of the towed bicycle, and/or the pressure appliedto the tow button 402.

Exemplary Pedal Mount Mechanism

Referring to FIGS. 7A-7C, the pedal mount mechanism 170 a isillustrated. The pedal mount mechanisms 170 a, 170 b are selectivelyoperable to pivot the pedals 166 a, 166 b respectively between operatingpositions substantially orthogonal to the respective crank arms 162 a,162 b (FIG. 1) and folded positions aligned with the respective crankarms 162 a, 162 b (FIGS. 2A-2D), in furtherance of selectivelyconfiguring the bicycle 100 for, e.g., upright operation (FIG. 1),storage (FIG. 2D) and towing (FIG. 4) It should be understood that thedescription of the pedal mount mechanism 170 a is similarly applicableto the pedal mount mechanism 170 b, and such a pedal mount mechanism maybe employed in other implementations of bicycle frames and/or bicyclesaccording to the principles of the present disclosure.

The pedal mount mechanism 170 a rotatably couples the pedal 166 a to thecrank arm 162 a. In particular, the pedal mount mechanism 170 a providesfor rotation of the pedal 166 a relative to the crank arm 162 a in adirection substantially orthogonal to both the length of the crank arm166 a and the pedal axis 168 (FIG. 1). The pedal mount mechanism 170 ais configured to receive a pedal stud 439 a, and, for example, providefor rotation of the pedal 166 a itself in a direction substantiallyparallel to the pedal axis 168 during operation of the bicycle 100.

The pedal mount mechanism 170 a includes first and second pairs of crankarm studs 440 a and 442 a. The first pair of crank arm studs 440 aextend longitudinally from the end of the crank arm 162 a opposite thepedal axis 168. The second pair of crank arm studs 442 a extend from theinside face of the crank arm 162 a, proximate the end of the crank arm162 a with the first pair of crank arm studs 440 a. The pedal mountmechanism 170 a further includes a bracket 444 a having apertures 446 acomplementarily to the first and second pairs of crank arm studs 440 a,442 a. The bracket 444 a includes an aperture 447 a having acounter-bore (not shown) for receiving a resilient member 448 a, e.g. aspring. A retaining component 449 a, e.g. a bolt, extends through thespring 448 a and the aperture 447 a to a mount base 450 a. For example,the retaining component 449 a may engage a complementary aperture 451 aon the mount base 450 a. Axle portions 452 a extend from opposing sidesof the mount base 450 a. The mount base 450 a is engaged with the stud439 a of the pedal 166 a at an aperture 453 a. The axle portions 452 arotatably engage apertures 454 a on the crank arm 162 a.

To support the pedal 166 a substantially orthogonal to the crank arm 162a, e.g. for the operating configuration of the bicycle 100 (FIG. 1), thebracket 444 a engages the first pair of crank arm studs 440 a, and thespring 448 a biases the bracket 444 a to maintain the engagement. Topivot the pedal 166 a to a position substantially longitudinally alignedwith the crank arm 162 a, e.g. for a storage (FIG. 2D) or towing (FIG.4) configuration of the bicycle 100, the bracket 444 a is disengagedfrom the first pair of crank arm studs 440 a by application of a forceto overcome the strength of the spring 448 a, acting between thecounter-bore of the aperture 447 a and the flange or head of theretaining component 449 a, and the mount base 450 a is rotated about theaxle portions 452 a. With the pedal 166 a substantially longitudinallyaligned with the crank arm 162 a, the bracket 444 a may be released, andthe spring 448 a biases the bracket 444 a into a locked engagement withthe second pair of crank arm studs 442 a. It should be understood that,to pivot the pedal 166 a to the operating position substantiallyorthogonal to the crank arm 162 a from the folded positionlongitudinally along the crank arm 162 a, this method may be reversed.

With further reference to FIGS. 7D-7G, another pedal mount mechanism 170a′ may include a lever 454 a′ for locking and unlocking the bracket 444a′ relative to the mount base 450 a′. The lever 454 a′ is rotatablycoupled to the retaining component 449 a′ at an axis 455 a′. The lever454 a′ includes a cam surface 456 a′ selectively operable to engage thebracket 444 a′. The cam surface 456 a′ has an offset configurationrelative to the axis 455 a′.

In the pedal mount mechanism 170 a′, the bracket 444 a′ includes anaperture 447 a′ with a counter-bore 457 a′ in the opposite orientationof pedal mount mechanism 170 a—that is, the counter-bore 457 a′ openstoward the mount base 450 a′, as opposed to the retaining component 449a′, as the spring 448 a′ is disposed between the mount base 450 a′ andthe bracket 444 a′. The spring 448 a′ biases the bracket 444 a′ awayfrom the mount base 450 a′ and the crank arm 162 a′ and, e.g., crank armstud 440 a′. The lever 454 a′ has a locked position (FIGS. 7D, 7F) inwhich a portion of the cam surface 456 a′ displaced relatively furtherfrom the axis 455 a′ engages the bracket 444 a′, causing the spring 448a′ to compress and the bracket 444 a′ to engage the crank arm stud 440a′. The lever 454 a′ further may be rotated to an unlocked position(FIGS. 7E, 7G) in which a portion of the cam surface 456 a′ displacedrelatively closer to the axis 455 a′ engages the bracket 444 a′,allowing the spring 448 a′ to bias the bracket 444 a′ away from themount base 450 a′ and the crank arm 162 a′ and permit rotation of themount base 450 a′ relative to the crank arm 162 a′ as described abovewith respect to the pedal mount mechanism 170 a.

Exemplary Handlebar Folding Mechanism

Referring to FIGS. 8A-8C and 9A-9B, the handlebar folding mechanism 192of the bicycle 100 is illustrated. The handlebar folding mechanism 192is selectively operable to rotate the handlebars 194 a, 194 b betweenoperating positions substantially orthogonal to the stem 190 and thehead tube 124 (e.g. FIG. 1) and folded positions aligned with, orextending away from the stem 190 and the head tube 124 (e.g. FIGS.2A-2D, FIG. 4), in furtherance of selectively configuring the bicycle100 for, e.g., upright operation (FIG. 1), storage (FIG. 2D) and towing(FIG. 4).

The handlebar folding mechanism 192 includes first and second handlebarbrackets 460, 462, a base 464 and a top plate 466. The base 464 is fixedto a collar 468 (FIGS. 3-4) rotatably coupled to the stem 190. The firstand second handlebar brackets 460, 462 are coupled to the handlebars 194a, 194 b, respectively. The first and second handlebar brackets 460, 462are rotatably sandwiched between the base 464 and the top plate 466. Thehandlebar folding mechanism 192 further includes a button 470 with a tab472 coupled to a spring 474. Collectively, the first and secondhandlebar brackets 460, 462, the base 464 and the top plate 466 define arecess 480 including a notch 484, and the button 470 and associatedcomponents extend within the recess 480. Each of the first and secondhandlebar brackets 460, 462 include a plurality of apertures forcooperating with the notch 484 and, thereby, defining fixed positionsfor the handlebars 194 a, 194 b relative to the base 464.

Referring in particular to FIGS. 8A-8C and 9A, when the spring 474biases the button 470 outward, the tab 472 of the button extends intothe notch 484 to mechanically lock the first and second handlebarbrackets 460, 462 relative to the base 464. To change the position ofone or both of the first and second handlebar brackets 460, 462, asshown in FIG. 9B, the button 470 is depressed such that tab 472disengages the first and second handlebar brackets 460, 462. The firstand second handlebar brackets 460, 462 may be rotated about the singlecommon pivot—about the recess 480—as desired to align a differentaperture as a part of the notch 484, to provide a desired configurationof the handlebars 194 a, 194 b. For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, thefirst and second handlebar brackets 460, 462 are configured to positionthe handlebars 194 a, 194 b in the operating position of FIG. 1, i.e.,substantially orthogonally to the side of the stem 190. In anotherexample, as shown in FIG. 8B, the first and second handlebar brackets460, 462 are configured to position the handlebars 194 a, 194 b in thefolded position of FIGS. 2A-2D, i.e., substantially along the stem 190and the head tube 124. In another example, as shown in FIG. 8C, thefirst and second handlebar brackets 460, 462 are configured to positionthe handlebars 194 a, 194 b to provide the towing configuration 400 ofFIG. 4, i.e., the handlebar 194 b is folded along the head tube 124, andthe handlebar 194 a is extended in the opposing direction, away from thehead tube 124 and the top tube 126.

Exemplary Wheel Couplings

Referring to FIGS. 10A-B and 11, couplings 510 for selectively engagingthe front and rear wheels 110, 112 to the frame assembly 120 of thebicycle 100 are illustrated. The engagement of one of couplings 510 andthe frame assembly 120, at the chain stay 130 for the rear wheel 112, isillustrated in FIGS. 10A-B; it should be understood that the engagementof one of the couplings 510 and the frame assembly 120 at the front forktube 122 for the front wheel 110 is similar as to the operation of thecoupling 510 and the corresponding wheel axle.

As shown in FIGS. 10A-10B, the rear axle 240 extends through threespaced apart portions of the chain stay 130, as well as the rear wheel112, to couple the rear wheel 112 to the bicycle 100 in the operatingconfiguration of FIG. 1. The bicycle 100 includes a first axle sleeve500 radially between the rear axle 240 and the rear gear cassette 184,and the rear wheel 112 includes a second axle sleeve 502 for receivingthe rear axle 240. A free hub 504 is disposed radially between the firstaxle sleeve 500 and the rear gear cassette 184. The first axle sleeve500, the free hub 504 and the rear gear cassette 184 are all axiallybetween two of the portions of the chain stay 130 such that, when therear wheel 112 is disengaged from the chain stay 130, the first axlesleeve 500, the free hub 504 and the rear gear cassette 184 all remaincoupled to the chain stay 130.

With additional reference to FIG. 11, the coupling 510 has first andsecond components 512, 514 respectively coupled to the bicycle 100 andone to the rear wheel 112. The first component 512 has a through hole520 for the rear axle 240 and an axial recess 522 defined therein. Theaxial recess 522 has a rectangular portion proximate the through hole520 and a wedge-shaped portion extending from the rectangular portion tothe periphery of the first component 512. The first component 512 isrotatably coupled to the chain stay 130 of the bicycle 100 with therecess 522 facing away from the rear gear cassette 184 toward the rearwheel 112, or the space for receiving the rear wheel 112. The firstcomponent 512 may also include apertures 524 such that the center ofgravity of the first component 512 is disposed toward the peripheralopening of the recess 522, e.g. that opening is at the relatively heavyend of the first component 512, so as to facilitate attachment of therear wheel 112 thereto, as described herein.

The second component 514 of the coupling 510 is coupled to the rearwheel 112. The second component 514 has a through hole 530 for the rearaxle 240 and an axial protrusion 532 extending therefrom. The protrusion532 is complementary shaped to the recess 522 of the first component512, with rectangular and wedge-shaped portions. The protrusion 532 mayalso displace the center of gravity of the second component 514 towardthe protrusion 532 such that it constitutes the relatively heavy end ofthe second component 514.

To attach the rear wheel 112, the rear wheel 112 is positioned withinthe chain stay 130 such that the first and second components 512, 514 ofthe coupling 510 face and align with one another and the protrusion 532of the second component 514 engages the recess 522 of the firstcomponent 512. With the displaced/offset centers of gravity disclosedherein, e.g. the opening of the recess 522 being at the relatively heavyend of the first component 512 and the protrusion 532 being at therelatively heavy end of the second component 514, the first and secondcomponents 512, 514 of the coupling 510 may automatically align, e.g.under the force of gravity, to facilitate engagement thereof.

Referring to FIG. 12, another coupling 510′ is illustrated, in which therecess 522′ of the first component 512′ and the protrusion 532′ of thesecond component 514′ have complementary rounded-wedge shapes differentthan the corresponding features of the coupling 510 of FIG. 11.

Another Exemplary Bicycle

FIG. 15A is a side view of another exemplary bicycle 600. It should beunderstood that the description herein of the bicycle 100 and thecomponents thereof is generally applicable to the bicycle 600 and therespectively similar components thereof, to the extent the bicycle 600and the components thereof are not identified, illustrated or describeddistinctly from the bicycle 100. It should be understood that respectivecomponents that are distinct between the bicycles 100 and 600 may besubstituted for one another, together with any coordinating components,according to the principles of the present disclosure, e.g. the chainstays and the frame pivot locking mechanisms. Additionally, it should beunderstood that, with respect to the features of the bicycle 600 thatare not separately discussed with respect to the description of thebicycle 600 herein and that are similar to or the same as those for thebicycle 100, e.g. the handlebars, the power and control system, and theseat, the respective descriptions of those features with respect to thebicycle 100 shall equally apply to the bicycle 600.

With continued reference to FIG. 15A, the bicycle 600 includes front andrear wheels 610, 612 and a frame assembly 620 with a fork tube 622, ahead tube 624, a top tube 626, a seat tube 628 and a chain stay 630. Thehead tube 624 and the top tube 626 are coupled at a first pivot 650, thetop tube 626 and the seat tube 628 are coupled at a second pivot 652,and the seat tube 628 and the chain stay 630 are coupled at a thirdpivot 654. As illustrated in FIG. 15A, the bicycle 600 may also includefolding handlebars, handlebar controls, a chainset assembly with foldingpedal mounts, a gear assembly, and a movable seat. The bicycle 600 mayalso include a power and control system. In the operating configurationof the bicycle 600 illustrated in FIG. 15A (e.g. while being riddenupright by a user), these components have the same overall configurationand function to the respectively similar components of the bicycle 100in the operating configuration thereof described herein.

Exemplary Frame Pivot Locking Mechanisms

With additional reference to FIG. 15B, which includes a perspective viewof a portion of the bicycle 600, the bicycle 600 includes a frame jointlocking mechanism 700 supported by the frame assembly 620 and operableto selectively rotatably lock or unlock one or more of the first, secondand third pivots 650, 652, 654. The frame joint locking mechanism 700includes a lever 702 rotatably coupled to a forward-facing exteriorportion of the seat tube 628. The lever 702 may be fixed to the seattube 628 in a locked position by a lever clip 704.

Referring also to FIGS. 16-20, the frame joint locking mechanism 700 mayinclude a pivot bracket assembly at any one or more of the pivots of theframe assembly 620, and a cable component extending between the lever702 and each pivot bracket assembly, e.g. a first pivot bracket assembly706 a at the first pivot 650 coupled to a first cable component 710 a, asecond pivot bracket assembly 706 b at the second pivot 652 coupled to asecond cable component 710 b, and a third pivot bracket assembly 706 cat the third pivot 654 coupled to a third cable component 710 c. Itshould be understood that, unless otherwise specified herein, thedescriptions of each the first, second and third pivot bracketassemblies 706 a-c, the first, second and third cable components 710a-c, and the components thereof, may be applicable to one another.

One implementation of a pivot bracket assembly according to theprinciples of the present disclosure is illustrated at FIG. 16, which isa side view of the exemplary first pivot bracket assembly 706 a for aframe pivot for the bicycle 600. The first pivot bracket assembly 706 aincludes a first bracket component 740 a having a radially inwardlyextending first protrusion 742 a and a second bracket component 744 awith a radially inwardly extending second protrusion 746 a. The firstand second bracket components are coupled relative to one of thecomponents of the frame assembly 620 coupled at the first pivot 650,e.g. the head tube 624. The first pivot bracket assembly 706 a furtherincludes a gear component 750 a coupled to the other of the componentsof the frame assembly 620 coupled at the first pivot 650, e.g. the toptube 626. The gear component 750 a includes a first pair of recesses 752a, 754 a in the radially outward periphery thereof, and a second pair ofrecesses 756 a, 758 a also in the radially outward periphery thereof.Each of the first pair of recesses 752 a, 754 a are complementary to thefirst protrusion 742 a of the first bracket component 740 a, and each ofthe second pair of recesses 756 a, 758 a are complementary to the secondprotrusion 746 a of the second bracket component 744 a. The first andsecond pairs of recesses 752 a, 754 a, 756 a, 758 a are configured suchthat one of the first pair of recesses 752 a, 754 a may engage the firstprotrusion 742 a while, simultaneously, one of the second pair ofrecesses 756 a, 758 a may engage the second protrusion 746 a. The gearcomponent 750 a is rotatable relative to the first and second bracketcomponents 740 a, 744 a.

The first pivot bracket assembly 706 a is coupled to the first cablecomponent 710 a. In this implementation, the first cable component 710 aincludes an outer portion 770 a secured to the second bracket component744 a with a collar 772 a. The first cable component further includes aninner portion 774 a extending through the outer portion and secured tothe first bracket component 740 a with a fastener 776 a.

The first and second bracket portions 740 a, 744 a are fixed to acomponent of the frame assembly 620, e.g. the head tube 624, at theopposite ends thereof, and are configured to have some elasticity, to becompressed in, and spring out of, engagement with the gear component 750a. For example, when the lever 702 is moved to the locked position, thelever 702 pulls the inner portion 774 a relative to the outer portion770 a, radially compressing the first and second brackets 740 a intoengagement with the gear component 750 a. The first and second pairs ofrecesses 752 a, 754 a, 756 a, 758 a correspond with operating andstorage positions of the bicycle 600, such that when a user isattempting to lock the frame at one of these positions, one of therecesses is aligned with each of the protrusions of the first and secondbrackets 740 a, 744 a. Accordingly, as the lever 702 maintains itslocked position, the first and second brackets 740 a, 744 a and the gearcomponent 750—and thus the first pivot 650 of the bicycle 600—remainrotatably fixed.

Each of the pivot bracket assemblies 706 a-c and respective cablecomponents 710 a-c may be similarly configured, such that operation ofthe lever 702 may lock any one, two or all three of the pivots of thebicycle 600.

Referring to FIGS. 18-19, another implementation of the cable componentsof the present disclosure is illustrated, with particular reference tothe second and third pivot bracket assemblies 706 b-c. The cablecomponents 710 b′-c′ are in the form of a single wide cable. Withparticular reference to FIG. 19, the cable component 710 b′ is wrappedaround the outside of the first bracket component 740 b and the secondbracket component 744 b and fixed to the second bracket component 744 b.Actuation of the lever 702 may tension the cable component 710 b′ toradially compress the first and second bracket components 740 b, 744 binto engagement with the gear component 750 b.

FIGS. 20A-B illustrate an exemplary external locking mechanism 820 for aframe pivot for a bicycle, which may be used in addition to or as analternative to any one or more of the pivot bracket assemblies 706 a-c.The exemplary external locking mechanism 820 is at the first pivot 650between the head tube 624 and the top tube 626. The external lockingmechanism 820 includes a cap 822 and a lever mechanism 824. The headtube 624 has a round protrusion 826 with a through aperture 628. Agroove 830 extends across the protrusion 826 over the aperture 628. Thetop tube 626 includes a first pair of channels 832, 834 and a secondpair of channels 836, 838. When the head tube 624 is rotated relative tothe top tube 626 to configure the bicycle 600 in an operating or storageposition, the groove 830 aligns with one of the pairs of channels of thetop tube 626 for each position. The cap 822 includes a complementaryprotrusion (not shown) configured to extend across one of the pairs ofchannels of the top tube 626 and through the groove 830. The levermechanism 824 locks the cap 822 against the frame assembly 620, and thecap 822 mechanically locks the first pivot 650. The external lockingmechanism 820 may include another cap and coordinating features on thehead tube 624 and the top tube 626 on the opposite side of the frame620.

Exemplary Chain Stay Coupling Component

FIGS. 17A-B illustrate another implementation of the pivot bracketassembly 706 c between the seat tube 628 and the chain stay 630,including a gear component 750 c′ having a recess 841′ defined therein.The gear component 750 c′ includes a support member 843′ extendingthrough the recess 841′ configured to rotatably couple to a pivot axle845′, that extends through the seat tube 628 and the chain stay 630. Arelatively elastic coupling component 847′ extends within the recess841′ and around the support member 843′ and the pivot axle 845. Thecoupling component 847′ may include an elastomeric material, and mayinclude one or more materials. The coupling component 847′ is configuredto receive connecting or paddle components 849′ of the chain stay 630.Accordingly, relative to the common pivot axle 845, the couplingcomponent 847′ is coupled in series between the seat tube 628 and thechain stay 630. As the coupling component 847′ is relatively elastic, itprovides a user of the bicycle 600 with desirable shock absorptioncharacteristics at the third pivot 654.

Exemplary Folding Chain Stay and Another Exemplary Towing Configuration

Referring to FIGS. 21-23 and 28, the chain stay component 630, operableto pivot the rear wheel between the riding configuration of FIG. 15 and,e.g., a towing position (FIG. 28), is illustrated in detail. The chainstay 630 includes a pivot arm assembly 860 and a drive side assembly 862on either side of the rear wheel 612 in the riding configuration of FIG.15. The pivot arm assembly 860 and the drive side assembly 862 extendfrom a yoke member 864. The drive side assembly 862 includes a firstmember 870 and a second member 872, which secure the gear assembly forthe bicycle 600, with or without the rear wheel 612, as similarlydisclosed herein with respect to FIGS. 10A-B and the bicycle 100. Thedrive side assembly 862 includes a splined wheel coupling 874 on theinside of the second member 872 and an auxiliary front wheel mount 876on the outside of the first member 870. An axle 880 is configured toextend through the drive side assembly 862 and into the splined wheelcoupling 874 to engage the rear wheel 612.

The pivot arm assembly 860 includes first and second portions 900, 902.The first portion 900 is rotatably coupled to the yoke member 864 at afirst hinge 904. The second portion 902 is rotatably coupled to thefirst portion 900 at the end thereof opposite the yoke member 864 with asecond hinge 906. An attachment member 908 is fixed on the outside ofthe first portion 900. A rear axle coupling 910 is rotatably secured tothe second portion 902 and the rear wheel 612.

As shown in FIG. 21A, the chain stay 630 may operate to re-position therear wheel 612 from the riding configuration of FIG. 15. The pivot armassembly 860 rotates away from the drive side assembly 862 at the firsthinge 904. Referring to FIG. 21B, when the pivot arm assembly 862 issufficiently rotated to provide clearance for the rear wheel 612, thesecond portion 902 and the rear wheel 612 are rotated away from thedrive side assembly 862 at the second hinge 906. Referring to FIG. 21C,when the second portion 902 is fully rotated to be adjacent the firstportion 900, the attachment member 908 couples to the second portion 902and/or a component thereon, to secure the rear wheel 612 in thealternate position. In one example, the attachment member 908 is amagnet that couples the end of the rear axle coupling 910. The firsthinge 904 is biased by any suitable approach, e.g. by a spring therein(not shown) to return the first portion 900 to its configuration alongthe drive side assembly 862. In this configuration, the rear wheel 612is axially aligned with the auxiliary front wheel mount 876, and thefront wheel 610 may be re-positioned at the auxiliary front wheel mount876 with an axle 880 as shown in FIG. 28 so that the bicycle 600 may beoperating in a towing configuration 1000, such as is described hereinwith regard to the towing configuration 400 of the bicycle 100. Forexample, a coupling or connection (not shown) to the power and controlsystem for the bicycle 600 extends through the pivot arm assembly 860 ofthe chain stay 630 to communicate and power the motor disposed on therear wheel 612. Another axle 880 may be stowed in the drive sideassembly 862 of the chain stay 630.

With additional reference to FIG. 29, the rear wheel 612 may be removedfrom the frame 620, e.g. for transportation or storage. The pivot armassembly 860 of the chain stay 630 is selectively detachable at thesecond hinge 906. The front and rear wheels 610, 612 may be coupled in awheel storage configuration 1002 with an axle 880.

Exemplary Wheel Axle Component

Referring to FIGS. 24-27, an exemplary assembly for the wheel axle 880for the bicycle 600 is illustrated. The wheel axle 880 selectivelyconnects to an axle coupling 920. The axle coupling 920 includes asubstantially cylindrical and hollow main body 921 with complementaryrecesses 922 and 924 formed in the sidewall thereof. In oneimplementation, the recesses each have a radially contoured profile withthe ends thereof radially displaced approximately 90° from the openingsthereof, respectively, around the main body 921. The axle couplingfurther includes a support shaft 926 and a flange 928. It should beunderstood that the description herein of the axle coupling 920 equallyapplies to the axle coupling 910 (FIG. 23), with the axle coupling 910having a relatively longer support shaft portion. One or more axlecouplings 920 may be included at various wheel mounting positions forthe bicycle 600, e.g. the auxiliary wheel mount 876 and/or on the forktube 622 for the primary wheel mount of the front wheel 610.

The wheel axle 880 includes a hollow main body 940 and a bayonet member942 extending inside the main body 940. The bayonet member 942 includesopposing protrusions 944, 946 proximate an end thereof, and the mainbody includes complementary slots (not shown) through which theprotrusions extend. The wheel axle 880 includes a resilient member 948,e.g. a spring, disposed inside the main body 940 between an end thereofand the end of the bayonet member having the protrusions 944, 946. Thewheel axle 880 further includes a lever 950 and a bushing or flangemember or component 952 coupled proximate an opposing end of the mainbody 940. The lever pivots relative to the bushing component 952 about alever axis 954 and engages the bushing 952 with a cam surface 956. Thecam surface 956 is offset relative to the lever axis 954. The lever 950further includes a locking recess 958 formed therein. As shown in FIG.26, the wheel axle 880 may also include an unlocking lever 960, coupledto the lever 950 at a pivot 962. The unlocking lever 960 includes aflange 964 engaging the bushing member 952, and facilitates movement ofthe lever 950 from a locked to an unlocked position, as the offset camsurface 956 creates tension across the wheel axle 880 in the lockedposition thereof.

With particular reference to FIGS. 27A-D, the engagement of the wheelaxle 880 and the axle coupling 920 is illustrated. It should beunderstood that certain features of the wheel axle 880, e.g., thebushing member 952, are omitted from FIGS. 27A-D, towards illustratingthe locking recess 958. Initially, the biasing member 948 displaces thebayonet component 942 into the locking recess 958 of the lever 950, toinhibit rotation of the lever 950. The wheel axle 880 is radiallytwisted to guide the protrusions 944, 946 of the bayonet member 942 intothe recesses 922, 924 of the axle coupling 920. As the protrusions 944,946 advance through the recesses 922, 924, the main body 940 of thewheel axle 880 engages the axle coupling, and the resilient member 948is compressed. When the protrusions 944, 946 of the bayonet component942 are fully positioned in the recesses 922, 924, the main body 940 isdisplaced relative to the bayonet component 942 such that the bayonetcomponent 942 is disengaged from the locking recess 958. With thisconfiguration, locking of the wheel axle 880 may not be attempted untilthe axle is properly engaged with the axle coupling 920. With the wheelaxle 880 properly engaged with the axle coupling 920, the lever 950 maybe rotated. The offset cam surface 956 engages the bushing member 952applying tension across the wheel axle 880 to secure it in a lockedposition.

Conclusion

In general, computing systems and/or devices, such as the computer 282and/or motor controller 284 of the bicycle 100, and the power andcontrol system of the bicycle 600, may employ any of a number ofcomputer operating systems, including, but by no means limited to,versions and/or varieties of the Ford SYNC® operating system, theMicrosoft Windows® operating system, the Unix operating system (e.g.,the Solaris® operating system distributed by Oracle Corporation ofRedwood Shores, Calif.), the AIX UNIX operating system distributed byInternational Business Machines of Armonk, N.Y., the Linux operatingsystem, the Mac OS X and iOS operating systems distributed by Apple Inc.of Cupertino, Calif., and the Android operating system developed by theOpen Handset Alliance. Examples of computing devices include, withoutlimitation, a vehicle computer or control unit, a smart phone, acomputer workstation, a server, a desktop, notebook, laptop, or handheldcomputer, or some other computing system and/or device.

Computing devices generally include computer-executable instructions,where the instructions may be executable by one or more computingdevices such as those listed above. Computer-executable instructions maybe compiled or interpreted from computer programs created using avariety of programming languages and/or technologies, including, withoutlimitation, and either alone or in combination, Java™, C, C++, VisualBasic, Java Script, Perl, etc. In general, a processor (e.g., amicroprocessor) receives instructions, e.g., from a memory, acomputer-readable medium, etc., and executes these instructions, therebyperforming one or more processes, including one or more of the processesdescribed herein. Such instructions and other data may be stored andtransmitted using a variety of computer-readable media.

A computer-readable medium (also referred to as a processor-readablemedium) includes any non-transitory (e.g., tangible) medium thatparticipates in providing data (e.g., instructions) that may be read bya computer (e.g., by a processor of a computer). Such a medium may takemany forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile media andvolatile media. Non-volatile media may include, for example, optical ormagnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile media may include,for example, dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which typicallyconstitutes a main memory. Such instructions may be transmitted by oneor more transmission media, including coaxial cables, copper wire andfiber optics, including the wires that comprise a system bus coupled toa processor of a computer. Common forms of computer-readable mediainclude, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk,magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any otheroptical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium withpatterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any othermemory chip or cartridge, or any other medium from which a computer canread.

Databases, data repositories or other data stores described herein mayinclude various kinds of mechanisms for storing, accessing, andretrieving various kinds of data, including a hierarchical database, aset of files in a file system, an application database in a proprietaryformat, a relational database management system (RDBMS), etc. Each suchdata store is generally included within a computing device employing acomputer operating system such as one of those mentioned above, and areaccessed via a network in any one or more of a variety of manners. Afile system may be accessible from a computer operating system, and mayinclude files stored in various formats. An RDBMS generally employs theStructured Query Language (SQL) in addition to a language for creating,storing, editing, and executing stored procedures.

In the drawings, the same reference numbers indicate the same elements.Further, some or all of these elements could be changed. Accordingly, itis to be understood that the above description is intended to beillustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments and applicationsother than the examples provided would be apparent to those of skill inthe art upon reading the above description. For example, many of thecomponents of the bicycles according to the principles of the presentdisclosure may be formed from a variety of materials and/or combinationsthereof, as dictated by user preference, specific applications, and thelike. The scope of the invention should be determined, not withreference to the above description, but should instead be determinedwith reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled. It should be understoodthat, as used herein, exemplary refers to serving as an illustration orspecimen, illustrative, or typical. As used herein, the adverb“substantially” modifying an adjective means that a shape or structuremay deviate from an exact described geometry because of imperfections inmaterials, machining, manufacturing, etc. It is anticipated and intendedthat future developments will occur in the arts discussed herein, andthat the disclosed systems and methods will be incorporated into suchfuture embodiments. In sum, it should be understood that the inventionis capable of modification and variation and is limited only by thefollowing claims.

With regard to the processes, systems, methods, heuristics, etc.described herein, it should be understood that, although the steps ofsuch processes, etc. have been described as occurring according to acertain ordered sequence, such processes could be practiced with thedescribed steps performed in an order other than the order describedherein. It further should be understood that certain steps could beperformed simultaneously, that other steps could be added, or thatcertain steps described herein could be omitted. In other words, thedescriptions of processes herein are provided for the purpose ofillustrating certain embodiments, and should in no way be construed soas to limit the claims.

All terms used in the claims are intended to be given their broadestreasonable constructions and their ordinary meanings as understood bythose skilled in the art unless an explicit indication to the contraryin made herein. In particular, use of the singular articles such as “a,”“the,” “said,” etc. should be read to recite one or more of theindicated elements unless a claim recites an explicit limitation to thecontrary.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a first bracketcomponent coupled to a seat tube of a bicycle frame; a connectingcomponent of a chain stay of the bicycle frame; and a coupling componentengaged in series between the connecting component and the first bracketcomponent about a common axle of the first bracket component and theconnecting component, the coupling component including an elastomericmaterial and being configured to provide shock absorption between thefirst bracket component and the connecting component.
 2. The apparatusof claim 1, further comprising: a second bracket component coupled tothe seat tube proximate the first bracket component, one of the firstand second bracket components having a radially-inwardly extending firstprotrusion; and a gear component directly engaging the couplingcomponent and rotatably coupled about the common axle between the firstand second bracket components, the gear component having a first set ofrecesses radially spaced from each other about a periphery thereof,wherein engagement of the first protrusion and one of the first set ofrecesses rotatably locks the gear component with respect to the firstand second bracket components.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein thegear component includes a support member extending radially inwardly topartially bisect the coupling component.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3,wherein the support member radially overlaps the coupling component andthe common axle.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the connectingcomponent includes a paddle surface aligned substantially parallel to anaxis of the common axle.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprisingfirst and second connecting components of the chain stay of the bicycleframe received on opposing sides of the coupling component,respectively.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the couplingcomponent is formed of the elastomeric material.
 8. An assemblycomprising: a seat tube for a bicycle frame; a chain stay for thebicycle frame; a first bracket component coupled to the seat tube; aconnecting component of the chain stay; a coupling component engaged inseries between the connecting component and the first bracket component;and a common axle extending between the first bracket, the connectingcomponent and the coupling component, wherein the coupling componentincludes an elastomeric material and is configured to provide shockabsorption between the seat tube and the chain stay.
 9. The assembly ofclaim 8, further comprising: a second bracket component coupled to theseat tube proximate the first bracket component, one of the first andsecond bracket components having a radially-inwardly extending firstprotrusion; and a gear component directly engaging the couplingcomponent and rotatably coupled about the common axle between the firstand second bracket components, the gear component having a first set ofrecesses radially spaced from each other about a periphery thereof,wherein engagement of the first protrusion and one of the first set ofrecesses rotatably locks the gear component with respect to the firstand second bracket components.
 10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein thegear component includes a support member extending radially inwardly topartially bisect the coupling component.
 11. The assembly of claim 10,wherein the support member radially overlaps the coupling component andthe common axle.
 12. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the connectingcomponent includes a paddle surface aligned substantially parallel to anaxis of the common axle.
 13. The assembly of claim 9, further comprisingfirst and second connecting components of the chain stay received onopposing sides of the coupling component, respectively.
 14. The assemblyof claim 9, further comprising a cable component engaging at least oneof the first and second bracket components and configured to bias thefirst protrusion into one of the first set of recesses to rotatably lockthe gear component relative to the first and second bracket components.15. The assembly of claim 14, further comprising a lever rotatablycoupled to the seat tube and engaged with the cable component.
 16. Theassembly of claim 15, wherein the cable component engages radiallyoutside surfaces of each of the first and second bracket components. 17.The assembly of claim 15, wherein the cable component includes aflexible outer cable fixed to one of the first and second bracketcomponents, a flexible inner cable extending through the outer cable andfixed to the other of the first and second bracket components, the outerand inner cables each engaged with the lever.
 18. The assembly of claim8, wherein the coupling component is formed of the elastomeric material.19. A bicycle frame comprising: a seat tube component; a chain staycomponent; first and second bracket components coupled to the seat tube,one of the first and second bracket components having aradially-inwardly extending first protrusion; first and secondconnecting components coupled to the chain stay; a coupling componentengaged in series between the seat tube component and the chain staycomponent, the coupling component directly engaging the first and secondconnecting components on opposing sides of the coupling component,respectively; a gear component engaging the coupling component androtatably coupled between the first and second bracket components, thegear component having a first set of recesses radially spaced from eachother about a periphery thereof; and a common axle between the first andsecond bracket components, the first and second connecting components,the coupling component and the gear component, wherein engagement of thefirst protrusion and one of the first set of recesses rotatably locksthe gear component to the first and second bracket components, and thecoupling component includes an elastomeric material.
 20. The bicycleframe of claim 19, further comprising: a cable component engaging atleast one of the first and second bracket components and configured tobias the first protrusion into one of the first set of recesses torotatably lock the gear component to the first and second bracketcomponents; and a lever rotatably coupled to the seat tube and engagedwith the cable component.